Why Cut The Cordhttps://whycutthecord.com
Cable TV/Satellite Alternatives - A Guide to Cutting the Cord & Saving Hundreds On Your TV BillFri, 10 Nov 2017 04:42:42 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.4Popular Digital TV Channels that you can watch without Cable or Internet Servicehttps://whycutthecord.com/popular-digital-tv-channels-can-watch-without-cable-internet-service/
https://whycutthecord.com/popular-digital-tv-channels-can-watch-without-cable-internet-service/#respondSat, 11 Feb 2017 05:01:03 +0000https://whycutthecord.com/?p=1982Popular Digital TV Channels that you can watch without Cable or Internet Service The Cable TV can make a serious dent on your pocket. The internet TV service may also do the same and give you poor quality TV especially if you have bandwidth and speed problems with your internet. Luckily, there a whole lot […]

]]>Popular Digital TV Channels that you can watch without Cable or Internet Service

The Cable TV can make a serious dent on your pocket. The internet TV service may also do the same and give you poor quality TV especially if you have bandwidth and speed problems with your internet. Luckily, there a whole lot of Free to Air TV channels that you can access without both the Cable and the Internet service. The all-HD platform allows you to receive HD Digital TV with your antenna free.

There are over 50 national broadcasting channels. Here are some popular digital TV channels:

American Broadcasting Company

Walt Disney Company owns ABC TV. It airs original programming, news, and sports every day of the week. It owns over 200 locally operated affiliate stations that air local content.

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

It is the second largest television network and most watched TV network. Like ABC, it also has over 200 affiliate stations that air local newscasts. The TV started its transmissions in 1941.

National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

This is the oldest and the largest commercial TV network. The TV is owned by NBCUniversal and airs sports, news, and original programming seven days a week. It also has several affiliate stations that serve different areas with local content. Many of the affiliates air local newscasts.

Fox Broadcasting Company

Fox started broadcasting in1986 and grew to become the fourth largest TV in the USA. It is owned by 21st Century Fox studio. It airs sports and first-run programming every day of the week. It programs 2 hours every night in primetime, an infomercial (which is optional) as well as a political talk program. It also has a little less than 200 affiliate channels that air local content in areas they are located.

The CW

The CW is owned by Time Warner and CBS Corporation. It came into being after the closing of UPN and WB. The CW has over a 100 affiliate stations that air local and national newscasts in their respective markets. The CW also has about 90 cable TV sub-channels through the CW Plus newsfeed.

My Network TV

This TV channel is also owned by 21st Century Fox. It Provides programming for stations that were left out after the closure of WB and UPN in 2006. My Network TV has 2-hour prime time programming as well as reruns of the movie serious that have originated from other broadcasting networks.

Other popular digital TV channels include Me-TV, This TV, and Ion Television all of which are national broadcasters and have local affiliates.

]]>https://whycutthecord.com/popular-digital-tv-channels-can-watch-without-cable-internet-service/feed/010 Reasons Why You Should Get Rid Of Cable TV : Things to Consider Before you Cut the Cordhttps://whycutthecord.com/10-reasons-get-rid-cable-tv-things-consider-cut-cord/
https://whycutthecord.com/10-reasons-get-rid-cable-tv-things-consider-cut-cord/#respondSat, 11 Feb 2017 04:39:11 +0000https://whycutthecord.com/?p=1979Things to Consider Before you Cut the Cord: 10 Reasons Why You Should Get Rid Of Cable TV Cable TV is an immensely popular pay TV option across the USA. However, many more options are no available. Here are reasons why you should get rid of the Cable TV You can stream live TV Cable […]

]]>Things to Consider Before you Cut the Cord: 10 Reasons Why You Should Get Rid Of Cable TV

Cable TV is an immensely popular pay TV option across the USA. However, many more options are no available. Here are reasons why you should get rid of the Cable TV

You can stream live TV

Cable TV made sense internet was no so fast, and the charges were high. Nowadays, you just need the streaming equipment and a streaming service to watch TV.

There are massive savings

Cable prices are rising more than ever. On the other hand, streaming services are much cheaper. You will also be getting rid of several other hidden costs by cutting the cable.

There is lots of content elsewhere

There is lots of available content online. You can watch your favorite sports online. NBA, NHL, and MLB have streaming services for their individual leagues.

Pay for what you watch

The cable TV makes you pay for a whole bunch of content that you do not watch. There are alternatives such as Apple TV, Netflix, and Amazon Fire that lets you pay for what you watch.

Contracts suck

Contracts really suck. Cable companies will lock you in with useless contracts once you get in. Many other companies would let you go when you need to without any hidden costs.

Get rid of the annoying commercials

The cable TV is full of annoying commercials. On average, you child will have watched about 16,000 commercials in a year. Deal with it by doing away with the cable.

Take advantage of free streaming services

If you are not sure of the streaming service to pick, why don’t you subscribe for the free streaming for a limited period? HBO Now, Hulu Plus, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Sling TV have free offers.

Deal with the passive watching crap

Cable TV makes you watch so much TV than you should just because you can watch a rerun or play in the background. With streaming, you only hit the play button when you need to watch not passively.

Steaming is legal

Many people tend to think that streaming is illegal. While there are illegal streaming sites, many sites are legit.

Get great original programming

Most of the new TV streaming services have many great original TV shows that you should not miss and that cannot be found anywhere else. Programs like the House of Cards, The Alpha House, Transparent, and Behind the Mask are great original shows on streaming services.

]]>https://whycutthecord.com/10-reasons-get-rid-cable-tv-things-consider-cut-cord/feed/0What does Amazon prime offer that Netflix doesn’t?https://whycutthecord.com/what-does-amazon-prime-offer-that-netflix-doesnt/
https://whycutthecord.com/what-does-amazon-prime-offer-that-netflix-doesnt/#respondSat, 11 Feb 2017 04:12:20 +0000https://whycutthecord.com/?p=1975What does Amazon prime offer that Netflix doesn’t? Are you tired of buying every single entertainment collection when it comes out? Those CDs are fast becoming obsolete. You are better o0ff streaming your favorite shows online. Amazon Prime Instant Video and Netflix are some of the leading content streaming platforms. Each platform is different from […]

Are you tired of buying every single entertainment collection when it comes out? Those CDs are fast becoming obsolete. You are better o0ff streaming your favorite shows online. Amazon Prime Instant Video and Netflix are some of the leading content streaming platforms. Each platform is different from the other. Here are areas where Amazon streaming service has an edge over Netflix.

The pricing

Netflix service costs $9.99 a month for two screens in HD, $11.99 a month for four screens in Ultra HD and $7.99 for one screen in standard resolution. Amazon, on the other hand, bundles their offer for different services. For $99 a year, you get access to the full Prime Instant Video service, access to their music streaming platform, unlimited cloud-based storage for your photos and books on Kindle. If you just need the video, it will cost you around $7.99 a month.

Amazon also offers you a chance to buy specific series and movie titles so that you can watch them as many times as you wish. Netflix does not offer you a chance to purchase any of their content.

Offline viewing

Amazon offers you a chance to download some of the video content on your iOS, Android, and Fire tablets. Netflix does not allow downloading of any of their content for offline viewing.

Ultra HD and Dynamic Range Content

The Amazon Prime Instant Video offers you Ultra HD video with HDR support at no extra cost. You only need to have a TV set that is compatible with the latest technology. Netflix charges you more to access their prime Ultra HD content.

Content

Both Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video have a huge content library that takes care of several genres. In the US, Amazon has a greater variety and a couple of thousands more content that Netflix. Its library is much richer than Netflix library by a factor of two to three. Amazon also has a library browser on its website that you can use even before logging in. Netflix does not have the option. Its set of originals is far much more and better than what Netflix offers. Amazon also has an amazing set of third-party content offerings for some of the favorite TV shows.

Amazon Prime Instant Video leads over Netflix by offering more content, better value for your money and offline viewing. It is also making improvements to access and app interface rather fast bringing a revolution to online video streaming.Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

]]>https://whycutthecord.com/what-does-amazon-prime-offer-that-netflix-doesnt/feed/0Cut the Cord Step-by-step Guidehttps://whycutthecord.com/cut-cord-step-step-guide/
https://whycutthecord.com/cut-cord-step-step-guide/#respondSat, 11 Feb 2017 03:48:54 +0000https://whycutthecord.com/?p=1972Cut the Cord Step-by-step Guide Cutting the cord isn’t for the millennial alone any longer if indeed the recent data is to be believed. Apparently, the many alternatives to cable television are cheaper and deliver higher quality images, of course, not to mention that they are devoid of those horrible customer service representatives. Cutting the […]

Cutting the cord isn’t for the millennial alone any longer if indeed the recent data is to be believed. Apparently, the many alternatives to cable television are cheaper and deliver higher quality images, of course, not to mention that they are devoid of those horrible customer service representatives. Cutting the cord means no more paying for what you don’t watch, and it is surprisingly easy to do it.

If your regular internet speed is higher than 10mbps and you can manage as little as $20 per month, then you are good to go. Streaming and the many mushrooming streaming devices are poised to change the future of television forever. If you are wondering how to cut the cord, the following step-by-step procedure will just serve to highlight the ease of doing it.

The first step is choosing the most appropriate Streaming Service

Sling TV is perhaps the most popular as it is cheaper than the rest and has more than 20 TV channels to choose from. Vue is equally lucrative with the most expensive plan costing a little over $40 per month, but with over 100 TV channels. Amazon Prime Instant Video is yet another one with some even juicier classics including HBO. You can still opt for Hulu and Netflix as they are other cheaper and accessible choices. While they all offer some periods of free trials, by the end of those days, you will have presumably made up your mind.

Choose your Device

What device will you be using to stream? Whether it will be Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV or Apple TV, you are solely responsible for one. With offers and their corresponding popularity, however, it is quite hard to make a wrong decision.

Have you any Antenna yet?

As a cord-cutter, an antenna is implausibly a must-have if you would like to experience many of the best and favorite TV channels. There are tons of recommendations to help find one for your area although getting a mid-priced one is perhaps the perfect deal. Remember, choosing one is mandatory while making the right choice is worth years of seamless streaming.

Take a week or more getting familiar with the services

It seems like almost all the streaming service providers knew that although time to ditch the cable TV was right, people needed a week or more to get used to the new, trendy style. Before you unplug that cable, take your time using the 7-day trial period to get used to the new experience. It might take you a little bit longer to locate your favorite TV channels or better yet that great TV show, although you will eventually find it.

Apparently, cutting the cord is a no-brainer; it requires no special expertise. Additionally, all of it can be done in a matter of hours if you have assembled everything required for it. Don’t forget to call your cable TV company notifying them that you will be forfeiting their services; it is ethical. Meanwhile, keep researching the internet for more ways of enhancing your streaming experience.

]]>https://whycutthecord.com/cut-cord-step-step-guide/feed/010 Reasons to Cut the Cord that are NOT about Saving Dollarshttps://whycutthecord.com/10-reasons-cut-cord-not-saving-dollars/
https://whycutthecord.com/10-reasons-cut-cord-not-saving-dollars/#respondSat, 14 Jan 2017 01:01:57 +0000http://whycutthecord.com/?p=183310 Reasons to Cut the Cord that are NOT about Saving Dollars Gone are those days when cable held supreme and nobody dared to challenge it. Things have changed now and people have seen a lot of reasons to ditch the cable. We want to consider good reasons to cut the cord. These reasons are […]

Gone are those days when cable held supreme and nobody dared to challenge it. Things have changed now and people have seen a lot of reasons to ditch the cable. We want to consider good reasons to cut the cord. These reasons are not initiated by the desire to save some bucks. Some of the reasons apart from saving dollars off your monthly entertainment bill are:

1. Awesome programs

Most of these streaming providers have awesome programs that are very educating and attractive. These programs are not even on cable which is a minus for cable TV or satellite. Some example of original programming include:

Transparent by Amazon

Behind the Mask by Hulu

House of Cards by Netflix

2. Better range of choice

It is known that you can subscribe to many streaming services without digging spending more than your budget. What most people do not know is that you can also decide which service to use and when. For instance, if you are subscribed to Hulu now and you feel that Netflix has better programs, ditch Hulu and go for Netflix and vice versa. That is very possible with streaming services.

Another thing is that you can even select the programs that you want to watch on a particular service. If you find a program to be boring or not educating enough for you, you can delete it immediately and you don’t have to worry yourself about auto renewal.

3. Free trial

With the avalanche of streaming companies around, deciding which one to go for may pose a big challenge. Fortunately enough, these companies help subscribers to decide by giving them free trials. These trials will help you to check the programs offered by different companies. You can then make your decision based on your personal assessment of the companies. You can check out the free trials by these companies.

HBO Now: One month

Netflix: One month

Sling TV: 7 days

4. Connection problem

If you are subscribed to cable, the location of the TV will be a major challenge. You will have to consider other stuffs that will fight for a space with the TV. With this, there will always be the problem of the best way to handle the connection problem without creating another problem. If you have to deal with this problem, you are in for a shocker if you are not a skilled technician. Added to that is the problem of poor weather. The big dish that will be mounted on the roof is another problem associated with this.

If you have a smart TV and some boxes that can be used to effectively stream, you can do whatever you like with a power outlet and a good broadband. If you have Wi-Fi connection, you can put your TV practically anywhere in the house. Cable services do not offer such luxury.

5. Transparency

Cable service providers are highly short of being transparent. They have a lot of hidden tactics and they use these to lure potential customers into committing themselves to them. On the other hand, streaming services will give you a detailed analysis and explanation on any changes that they want to make. They will even go to the extent of notifying you in advance. The transparency of streaming service providers gives them an edge over conventional cable service providers who are the masters of secrecy.

6. Reduced commercials

Cable programs are laced with time-wasting commercials. On an average, a child will see about 16,000 commercials in a year. While there are no side effects of watching commercials, it definitely affects some of the activities of children. By cutting cord, you will drastically reduce the amount of commercials that your children are exposed to on a daily basis. Apart from the children, a program that is supposed to be aired for just two hours may extend to 3 hours due to the series of commercials that will be shown. This wastes viewers’ time.

7. Watching time reduced

Either consciously or unconsciously, we sometimes switch on the TV just for it to continue playing in the background. This is common among those who are using cable. They also have the custom of watching reruns of past programs just because the cable is showing them. Most of the times, these programs are time wasters. Why should one watch a rerun of an old program several times? It is because they are available there on the cable. With streaming, however, you watch what you want to watch and when you want to watch it.

8. Easy accessibility to programs

One of the annoying things about cable programs is the need to search through a list of unwanted programs to look for a particular program that you want to watch. Most of the times, you find it inconvenient to do so. With streaming, you can easily get any program that you want to watch at any time. This saves you from the embarrassment of scrolling up and down and gives you easier access to your programs.

9. More Options

When Netflix came up with streaming a couple of years ago, it was a lonely soldier among enemies. Today, there are a lot of players coming into the game. With names like Hulu and Amazon Prime already joining Netflix, there are better options. Recent events show that other companies like CBS, Sony, HBO and Apple are interested in it too. This will give viewers a wide range of options to choose from. This will break the monopoly of cable services and any other providers who may want to exploit and extort subscribers.

10. Easier than ever

Some years ago, cutting cord seemed to be a difficult and risky decision. This is because cable TV was the undisputed king. Nowadays, it has become very easy. This is due to the availability of many options in the field of streaming. The usual fear that was present in those years have been gradually but successfully eliminated. Therefore, it is now easier to cut cord than ever before.

So there you have it, 10 reasons why you should cut loose of your cable company even if you do not believe that cord cutting can help in saving dollars off your monthly entertainment list.

]]>https://whycutthecord.com/10-reasons-cut-cord-not-saving-dollars/feed/0Hulu Plus: An in-depth reviewhttps://whycutthecord.com/hulu-plus-in-depth-review/
https://whycutthecord.com/hulu-plus-in-depth-review/#respondSat, 14 Jan 2017 01:01:50 +0000http://whycutthecord.com/?p=1793HuluPlus: An in-depth review HuluPlus is a subscription based video streaming service that you can use to view all your popular movies and network TV shows. Hulu opened it’s doors in 2008 giving viewers the choice for the first time to watch current and past TV shows aired on popular networks which were mostly only […]

HuluPlus is a subscription based video streaming service that you can use to view all your popular movies and network TV shows. Hulu opened it’s doors in 2008 giving viewers the choice for the first time to watch current and past TV shows aired on popular networks which were mostly only available on cable like NBC, FOX, NBCU networks (such as USA, Bravo, Oxygen, SyFy), ABC, Freeform (previously ABC Family),FX and FXX content, and Comedy Central etc. In addition to prime TV content, Hulu Plus also offers original series, kids programs, full-length movies, film trailers, documentaries and individual clips among others that users can watch on any internet connected device.

The difference between Hulu and HuluPlus

Apart from the fact that Hulu is free and Hulu Plus costs a monthly subscription fee, there many more differences in the two services. In the standard Hulu version, you can only access a few of the recent series aired on TV, acts much like a teaser and promotional tool for up sell to Hulu Plus. On Hulu Plus, you can access the full series seasons, but on Hulu have a very limited shows available and mostly movie trailers. The HuluPlus subscription also allows you to view the episodes of your favorite TV program a day in advance.

You can only access your basic Hulu account online by logging in from your PC. Hulu Plus, on the other hand, is available on hundreds of different devices including Smart TVs, Streaming Media Players, Game Consoles, DVD players, Tablets, Smartphones, Laptops etc.

Hulu Plus SHOWTIME

Hulu Plus gives you access to even more content with SHOWTIME, a Premium Add-On. The add-on lets you access award-winning Showtime original programming such as The Affair, Homeland, Masters of Sex, Episodes and Ray Donovan as well as a great exclusive selection of top Hollywood blockbusters that can be viewed on any device that supports Hulu services including your computer. However, you will part with $8.99 a month on top of the Hulu charges to use this premium add-on. To add SHOWTIME to your subscription, just login to the Hulu website and add SHOWTIME Premium Add-on as an upgrade. Weather you have a Hulu Commercial or No-Commercial plan, the SHOWTIME programming is 100% commercial free.

Accessing Hulu Plus

You need to have the latest Flash enabled computer and reliable internet connection to watch Hulu. Since the service is app-based, you do not need any extra hardware to access the service. You can also watch the videos on any iOS, Android, PS3, Xbox, Roku and Amazon Kindle Fire Device. You can find a complete list of supported devices on Hulu website.

Advertisements

Hulu Plus calls itself an ad-supported subscription service. This means that it airs advertisements during breaks when watching the TV shows and movies. They talk about a modest amount of advertisements but do not give a limit of how many. Hulu Plus clients typically report watching sometimes 2 or 3, 15-second advertisements after a half an hour or so of their favorite TV program. Recently, Hulu unveiled a No-Commercials Plan but at a higher cost as discussed below.

Hulu Subscription Costs

The HuluPlus plan costs $7.99 per month, once you add the SHOWTIME add-on for an additional $8.99 per month, your total Hulu bill will be $16.98 per month. With the HuluPlus No-Commercials plan which costs a bit higher at $11.99 per month, adding SHOWTIME to your current Hulu subscription will result in a total bill of $20.98 per month.

Watching Cable TV Programming from FOX, NBCU & ABC Networks

Participating pay-TV service providers like FOX, NBCU and ABC have decided to enable access to catch-up episodes of current network shows to viewers who have an existing cable service. Subscribers can authenticate their Hulu.com account with any of the pay-TV services and if eligible they will automatically be to watch episodes for several shows online, on PCs, media streaming devices as early as the next day. The Networks’ intent here is to allows user access to catch-up episodes of current shows. It’s important to mentions that this doesn’t always work as some supported cable/satellite TV subscriptions types do not include the “rights to view content” from all authentication-enabled networks. To qualify for next-day viewing for available content from the cable networks of AMC, FOX and NBCU Networks, subscribers must be authenticated from a supported pay-TV provider.

Hulu.com users with an active and supported cable or satellite TV service can authenticate using a simple 3-step online by visiting the http://Hulu.com/authenticate

Log-in to your Hulu.com account on their PC or laptop

Use the “Search For Your Provider” section and pick/enter your cable or satellite TV service provider

Authenticate your account by following the on-screen prompts

Availability of NBC Shows on Hulu

Many current NBC shows are are available the day after they air for both free users and Hulu Plus subscribers but the full seasons on-demand viewing of top shows are only available existing pay-TV subscribers. Users must have a valid cable TV subscription to watch the full current season(s) of select NBC shows and featured programming. If you don’t have an active subscription with a cable provide, only five(5) most recent episodes of any NBC show are accessible the day after they air.

Availability of FOX Shows on Hulu

Unlike NBC, FOX network only allows limited free access to four (4) catch-up episodes of current shows to subscribers of participating Pay-TV plan only. Latest episodes are only available online the very next day for participating Pay-TV customers but they are usually available on Hulu 8 days after their original air day. This 8-day delay applies to most programming but some shows can take up to 30 days to be available on Hulu.

Availability of Bravo, SyFy, USA and Oxygen Shows on Hulu

NBCU, the parent company of Bravo, SyFy, USA and Oxygen has allowed access to five(5) rolling most recent episodes of the current shows. New episodes are available the day after they air and are only accessible after authentication on Hulu.com through a participating pay-TV subscription. One important thing to note is that no current NBCU show seasons are available on your favorite streaming media devices, these shows are only available on the PC through Hulu.com website. A limited selection of past season NBCU network generated content is available on all devices that support the Hulu app like Roku, Amazon FireTV, SmartTV, Xbox, PS3 etc.

Availability of FX and FXX Shows on Hulu

If you are interested in watching shows produced by FX and FXX, you are in luck if you have an active participating Pay-TV service. FX shows are only available to existing Pay-TV subscribers and available on Hulu only after the user has authenticated. A wide variety of shows are available and new episodes become available the day after they air on TV. Current season FX and FXX shows are available online and accessible from the PC only through Hulu.com. A selection of past season FX and FXX shows are available on Hulu-enabled devices.

Though you may find shows from ABC network on Hulu, you will notice that the availability of some shows are really dependent of the channel. ABC, Freeform, and ABC News all have varying availability on Hulu and here is a snippet of what’s posted on availability on Hulu:

Device Activation on Hulu

In order to activate a supported internet connected device, users need to log in to the Hulu.com account using their email address and password or alternatively use the activation code available on the app main screen. A device activation case is an alphanumeric code and will allow the user to enable the device at Hulu.com/activate. Please note that you don’t need an activation code to activate Apple TV and mobile devices. All you have to do is access the Hulu App and login using your do not have an activation code and start watching.

Hulu User Interface

Hulu Plus user interface is intuitive and very easy to understand and navigate. The landing page has new show slides, a list of recently watched shows along with suggested contents listed per genre. A powerful search is provided to assist users in finding specific content type they are looking for, user can search by title, movie, actor, or a keyword. An advanced video search is also available which allows multiple search criteria to make searching content even better.

Overall, the user interface is easy to use and provide basic/advanced search functions for easy access to available content.

PlayOn TV vs Hulu Plus

PlayOne is a fully featured Streaming DVR application available for your PC or to record in Cloud and watch on any device of your choice. PlayOn portal that allows anyone to aggregate content from 100s of streaming websites and services and puts the content into an easy-to-use streaming video interface. Netflix, Hulu, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, Amazon, HBO GO and YouTube to name a few. You can record anything that’s available from these websites or apps. Yes, you can even record shows that are exclusively available on Netflix, Amazon, HBO, Hulu etc.

In many ways, PlayOn gives you access to same content as Hulu Plus with the exception of Hulu exclusive content. PlayOn works with both paid Hulu and free Hulu accounts allowing users to view and record content available on Hulu. PlayOn users can record shows and watch them ad-free and if you are not interested in Hulu exclusive content, you can watch majority of Hulu content without paying a paid Hulu subscription fee. Customers who already have Hulu Plus subscription and want to continue it get the added benefit of recording Hulu content locally (Yes, it works like a DVR on your PC) via PlayOn automatically and have it available to watch anytime, anywhere or any device of their choice completely ad-free. PlayOn overall is a very good value at $39.99 one time lifetime license fee and a viable alternative. You can try PlayOn for Free and see if it fits your needs. PlayOn Cloud is the first mobile app that lets you record and download streaming shows and movies to watch offline — anytime, on any device directly from the cloud. No PC required. You can sign up today and get 5 free recordings!

]]>https://whycutthecord.com/hulu-plus-in-depth-review/feed/0What Is Sling? Are There Really Any Savings to Get Rid of Your Cable TV/satellite Service?https://whycutthecord.com/sling-really-savings-get-rid-cable-tvsatellite-service/
https://whycutthecord.com/sling-really-savings-get-rid-cable-tvsatellite-service/#respondSat, 14 Jan 2017 01:01:46 +0000http://whycutthecord.com/?p=1065What Is Sling? Are There Really Any Savings to Get Rid of Your Cable TV/satellite Service? What is Sling TV? Sling TV is a household name today owing to its popularity as one great alternative to cable TV. It was launched in early 2015 as a timely relief to the expensive cost of watching TV […]

]]>What Is Sling? Are There Really Any Savings to Get Rid of Your Cable TV/satellite Service?

What is Sling TV?

Sling TV is a household name today owing to its popularity as one great alternative to cable TV. It was launched in early 2015 as a timely relief to the expensive cost of watching TV in the US. While it is safe to mention that Sling TV is technically the future of television surrounded by an ever-increasing selection of on-demand live streaming services, it has every reason to do so. It is made up of those premium TV channels including ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, TNT, AMC, and more.

Sling TV is perhaps laying the foundation for a dream service for “cord-cutters” and cash-strapped Millennials, although, at the moment, the figures are growing quite fast. The fact that the services are delivered via a stable internet connection means that viewership can be via television, computers or mobile devices for just $20-per-month. Everything aside, however, your internet speed ought to be terribly high as buffering and stuttering can wreck your otherwise beautiful experience.

Is sling ideal enough to mount a revolution in escaping the hefty cable TV bills?

Definitely! With the statistics showing that over 19% of the total American population defecting from the traditional cable TV, of course, for Sling TV, the challenge that it is packing up is immense. Many will say that it perfectly suits the cash-strapped individuals, but if you feel the pinch of that over $200 Cable TV bill, then you know why the numbers are expected to rise. The base package is a paltry $20 per month, a figure that sharply contrasts with the other ones.

Other merits of using Sling TV in this era are because it delivers some cutting-edge products and services including some crispy, HD images. You will access over 19 of the best basic cable staples with no hidden charges, no contracts and above all, no disturbing messages and nagging cable TV calls and texts.

With the 7-day free trial, you will indeed experience everything that comes with it before making that great decision. There’s no pesky cable equipment to set up or any specialized training to install and run the equipment. All you need is an account on DISH’s website, a stable internet connection and you are ready to go!

Essentially, the following are the features that make it a cheaper alternative.

It is more affordable with tons of TV channels to stream; just $20 for the most expensive plan, but with many premium channels.

It is much like watching the conventional channels only that it is delivered via the internet.

It can be accessed anywhere, of course within the US.

No contracts and you can end your subscription with no hassles.

With an internet connection that can support typical streaming sites like Hulu and Netflix, you are good to go.

With Sling TV, images and videos are of the best quality.

While one account can be used on one device at a time, you can still stream on your TV, PC or via your mobile device.

When all’s said and done, Sling TV is one bold change in the future of television today.

]]>https://whycutthecord.com/sling-really-savings-get-rid-cable-tvsatellite-service/feed/0Cord-Cutting is about paying only for what you want to watchhttps://whycutthecord.com/cord-cutting-paying-want-watch/
https://whycutthecord.com/cord-cutting-paying-want-watch/#respondSat, 14 Jan 2017 01:01:35 +0000http://whycutthecord.com/?p=1836Cord-Cutting is not about saving money but paying only for what you want to watch When cable television was introduced a couple of decades ago, it was accepted nationally as the best means of getting access to shows, music and movies that have good values to the viewers. This euphoria is gradually waning as the […]

]]>Cord-Cutting is not about saving money but paying only for what you want to watch

When cable television was introduced a couple of decades ago, it was accepted nationally as the best means of getting access to shows, music and movies that have good values to the viewers. This euphoria is gradually waning as the cost of maintaining a cable service is becoming unaffordable due to their high subscription fees. This makes some people to consider cord-cutting to minimize the amount of money that they spend on subscribing to a cable TV, especially when there are programs that they don’t watch.

What is cord-cutting?

Simply put, cord-cutting is a term used in the broadcast television world when making reference to a situation where a viewer cancels his or her subscription to a particular service offered by a subscription television. It may also include the discontinuation of the patronage given to a television channel that operates pay services if the services of the pay television are seen to be expensive. The term also applies to a situation where viewers reduce the amount of hours subscribed to a TV station.

Why do people engage in cord-cutting?

Contrary to the erroneous views of some people, the main reason for cord-cutting is not for the reduction of money spent on these channels but a means of paying for what one really wants to watch not just paying for all the stations out of necessity or compulsion.

For instance, if I usually subscribe for 20 hours per month and I realize that the movies I watch only take 8 hours per month and I spend additional 4 hours to watch the news, I may decide to subscribe for just the number of hours that I use. What is the essence of paying the subscription fee for 20 hours when I will use just 12 hours? What becomes of the remaining 8 hours? It is wasted.

Another reason why people cut cord is if they are tempted by the services of a rival station to the one they presently subscribe to. For instance, if Mr A is a subscriber to a Station X, he may have to cut cord if Station Y now offers a better program than Station X. If Station X has some programs that Mr A enjoys, he may reduce his subscription to Station X so that he will use the remaining money to subscribe to other good programs that are present on Station Y.

Different methods of cord-cutting

There are a lot of ways to minimize the amount of money you spend on unwanted programs on the cable so as to get value for you money. These alternatives are discussed one after the other below:

Antenna

Some of the programs that are featured on cable network that makes its charge very expensive are also shown on local TV stations. Instead of paying through the nose for both wanted and unwanted programs, you can install an HD Antenna on your TV at home. This will afford you the opportunity of watching some of your favorite programs like sports and news without burning a hole in your pocket.

The good thing about antenna is that one can purchase a good one for less than $50. Once you mount your antenna on your TV, that will be the end of subscription fee as it does not apply to antenna.

Devices for Streaming

Practically everything available on the cable can be streamed. What this simply means is that instead of downloading music or a movie for later viewing, you can listen to the music on the go without wasting time waiting for it to be downloaded. The same applies to movies too.

The type of device that you can use for streaming varies. There are different devices from different companies like Amazon, Google, Apple and Roku. If you are interested in games, it is advisable that you get a PS4. Alternatively, you can get an Xbox. For people who are really into devices from Apple, you can go for Apple TV.

Laptop owners can plug their computer with the TV using any available port or using the HDMI. With a keyboard and a wireless mouse, you can go ahead and have the fun of your life without worrying yourself about expensive cable subscription.

Services that support streaming

When you have already got the right device that you need, the next thing is to get the right streaming service to go with it.

A lot of companies offer streaming services. Some of these companies are Hulu, Amazon Prime, Netflix and others. These streaming companies charge per month. Their subscriptions are little compared to that of cable TV. The average charge of these service providers is $10 compared to over $100 for cable.

With these streaming devices and services, you can determine the kind of movie that you want to watch or the music that you want to listen to. This will determine what you will pay as subscription fee which will be determined by you and not by your service provider.

Notably, their subscription is usually between $8 and $12 depending on what you want to view or listen to. This is very far from the charges of cable. Even if a subscriber decides to subscribe to three of these providers, the subscription fee will still be far less than that of cable. And as I said before, you will be paying a huge sum of money for programs that you will not watch.

Conclusion

It can now be seen that it is possible to get the amount of service that one wants without spending too much on unwanted programs. These cord-cutting options are about getting value for your time. They allow you the privilege of paying for only what you want and nothing else. This is one shortcomings of cable that needs to be addressed by their operators if they still want to enjoy the good patronage that they once enjoyed and ward off any competition.

]]>https://whycutthecord.com/cord-cutting-paying-want-watch/feed/0Is It Time To Cut The Cord And Get Rid Of Your Expensive Cable TV Company?https://whycutthecord.com/time-cut-cord-get-rid-expensive-cable-tv-company/
https://whycutthecord.com/time-cut-cord-get-rid-expensive-cable-tv-company/#respondSat, 14 Jan 2017 01:01:35 +0000http://whycutthecord.com/?p=1131Is It Time To Cut The Cord And Get Rid Of Your Expensive Cable TV Company? Many Americans are faced today with the rising cost of TV entertainment and often end up spending over $200 every month to watch a couple of shows and TV channels that they really care for but yet continue to […]

]]>Is It Time To Cut The Cord And Get Rid Of Your Expensive Cable TV Company?

Many Americans are faced today with the rising cost of TV entertainment and often end up spending over $200 every month to watch a couple of shows and TV channels that they really care for but yet continue to be billed for 100s of channels sold as packages and a premium cost associated with it. Most common Cable base packages don’t have the most popular channels and really leave a lot to be desired. American families with kids at least need access to news, sports and kids or teen programming, dilemma is one can never find a package that fits all the general programming needs. Local channel, premium channel, DVR, receiver/wireless receiver cost on top of the base programming charge quickly add up and before you know it you are stuck with a hefty bill every month. Let’s not forget about the horrible customer care that seems to find pride belittling you whenever you ask them to set up your regular subscription plan? Well, it is all about to change, welcome to the age of Internet-based TV.

So what is Internet-based TV? Technically called over-the-top (OTT) content delivery, the idea is to stream content from any content provider solely using the traditional internet and using consumer Internet Service provider as the “last-mile” and eliminating the need of a cable provider completely. Many traditional Pay-TV providers have already opted for OTT to keep up with the trend and from getting removed from the playing field completely. This concept is not new but has only been explored more in recent years with the evolution of high-speed internet making it possible to delivery high quality content via internet to any device with an internet connection.

Live linear OTT (in simple terms, live TV over the internet) is not a concept anymore and companies like Xfinity, Youtube, and Amazon etc. are offering live TV using OTT today. New services are becoming available every year and the technology is proving to be quite an attractive alternative to traditional cable especially due to lower cost and flexibility to choose an a-la-cart TV to make your own packages. So the big question is it is about time you cut the cord and get rid of cable once and for all? If interested, please keep on reading as we’ll explore the details of the two offerings, associated cost and discuss pros/cons so anyone interested in the switch could make a well informed decision.

For several years now, Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant Video have been making news as the best internet-based media streaming services loved by cable cutters who have ditched the conventional cable TV company for this interesting alternative. As for the rest, some are on the fence and keeping a close watch as the landscape continues to evolve and more options are becoming available every day. Let’s have a closer look at the cost associated with internet-based TV service.

According to the latest study published by Digitalsmiths, on average a Netflix subscriber watches content for 1hr, 33 min compared to Pay-TV’s 2 hr, 30 min per day average. This average for Netflix has seen in an increase and that of Pay-TV is on the decline. While Netflix subscriptions have grown from 24M in 2012 to 43M in 2015, the Pay-TV providers like Comcast have seen it flatten at 23M. Overall cable subscriptions are on a slow decline, going from 53M in 2012 to 49 M in 2015. That said, the Pay-TV are now focused on not only mirror the same OTT content offerings at similar cost but also to reverse the trend to keep them alive in this competitive space. And based on the recent data, it’s working well for the Pay-TV providers as the adoption of OTT has had little effect on Pay-TV subscription over the recent 12-18 months. Though Netflix offers a wide selection of movies, TV shows and exclusive Netflix content, it’s all really just Video on demand (VoD). The Pay-TV provider have a huge advantage when it comes to content, they have years of experience, library of original content, live TV, sports programming, premium channels, Pay-per-view and VoD. Simply put, “Content is King”, and that’s especially true to traditional Pay-TV providers. The Pay-TV providers have not only caught up with the OTT trends but now working on increasing their subscription base by offering very competitive cable TV rates making it very difficult decision for consumers looking to “cut the cord”.

For years, traditional cable TV providers like Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, AT&T, etc. have dominated the cable industry and pretty much been making all decisions for the end customers. Customer typically get a choice of 3 packages plus a few premium TV, movies and sports channel. Customer are also required to pay for set-top box, wireless receivers, premium for HD or DVR and extra dollars if you have multiple TVs or would like to stream to mobile devices. The practice is common among all top cable provides and have been used for year with a new packaging coming out every 18 months along with special pricing bundles for New-Customers Only for a price lock of 12-18 months. Here is a high level average cost for cable:

Local Package: $10-$20/month

Starter Package: $35-$65/month

Plus Packages: $65-$85/month

Premium Package: $85-$165/month

Basic Receiver Cost: $8-$10/month, HD additional $5/month

DVR Costs: $10-15/month

Additional Receivers: $10-15/month

Premium channels on their own cost anywhere from $15-$20 and in most cases can be added on top of prepackaged programming. Based on this data, an average American household with two TV could end up paying anywhere from $60 to upwards $200 on cable TV. In addition, you’ll also have to pay a $99 installation fee and any ad-on fee if cabling or new outlets are required. Most American families on average end up paying $120-$140 per month on cable TV.

So the decision really comes down to 4 factors:

Overall cost for VoD and Live TV service

More control over what and when you watch TV

Add-Free viewing option

Content

One question on every sceptic’s mind is “How will I survive without my favorite TV show? Will I access live sports without any glitch?”

Many dread the idea of losing those beloved shows, unbeknown that all the premium television and sports channels are available too. If you aren’t aware then, it will shock you that getting rid of your cable TV is incredibly easy. In fact, the following information will serve as an eye-opener for you.

The internet today is superbly fast enough to warrant the switch while the availability of the many streaming tools and avenues makes it even more vivid. As you choose your streaming service, you will need to consider Sling TV, which is, by far, the best streaming service out there. It is perhaps a collection of popular cable channels that can be accessed via your TV, the PC and all those compatible mobile devices. What is more, all of them will cost you just $20 per month, and you will pay as you watch. Incredibly perfect, right?

Remember, Sling TV offers a 7-day trial period within which if you aren’t pleased with it, you can try one of the many top-notch alternatives. You will access all those premium HD Live Sports channels, Lifestyle Networks, hot TV shows and movies, as well as the many Family Entertainment sites. In addition to Sling TV, Amazon Instant Video is equally excellent with a massive HBO classics including all that is available on that Cable TV.

An excellent streaming player like Roku 4 is just too good to enhance your streaming experience. Think of it as an enhanced cable box, smaller than the conventional, but filled with all the finest content. Forget about its user-friendliness and the fact that it is just simple, Roku 4 with Sling TV just came up with a fantastic deal; pre-pay three months of Sling TV and you are guaranteed of a 50% off the streaming device.

What a time to be alive, experiencing all the thrill while cutting the costs up to as little as just $8 every month! You can abandon that cable as soon as today and enjoy every experience of it!

]]>https://whycutthecord.com/time-cut-cord-get-rid-expensive-cable-tv-company/feed/0How to Cut the Cord and get rid of expensive Cable TV billhttps://whycutthecord.com/cut-cord-get-rid-expensive-cable-tv-bill/
https://whycutthecord.com/cut-cord-get-rid-expensive-cable-tv-bill/#respondSat, 14 Jan 2017 01:01:29 +0000http://whycutthecord.com/?p=1134How to Cut the Cord and get rid of expensive Cable TV bill It is quite presumable that you probably wish all those 700+ HD channels on your cable satellite service channel would be free. That is why you will readily fall in love with this newest idea of introducing a safe gateway from the […]

It is quite presumable that you probably wish all those 700+ HD channels on your cable satellite service channel would be free. That is why you will readily fall in love with this newest idea of introducing a safe gateway from the massive cable TV bill every month.

For over a decade, cable television has always been the best way to get quality shows all over the US, of course at a cost. With the advent of the high-speed Internet as it is today, however, perhaps it is about time you cut that cord and once and for all get rid of the hefty cable television bill. It is true, some exquisitely modern shows that you won’t like to miss serenade cable TV, but this alternative is as perfect as it is a suitable choice. Streaming is cheaper and more simplified than cable TV as it only depends on the internet, a resource that is quite pervasive today.

Are you wondering how to cut the cord and escape the urge to buy that expensive cable TV subscription?

With so many ways available today, choosing the most appropriate one can be utterly confusing. However, streaming devices and services are implausibly the most common way of eliminating cable TV and its subsequent costs today. Sling TV, the most attractive yet affordable streaming services provider, is one beneficial avenue. It is barely a year and a half since its inception, yet the buzz it has created is astounding.

Sling TV is quite easy to set up, surprisingly affordable – just $20 per month – and above all, comes complete with most of the top networks on cable. If you have a show airing on HBO and can’t imagine missing out on each episode, Sling TV has it on-board as well. If by any chance you don’t like it, however, Amazon with its over 40,000 hit TV shows and movies will utterly appeal to you. It is quite affordable and, much like Sling TV, airs in HD.

Netflix, Hulu, and CBS All Access are quite popular although it is agreeable that the $20 per month offer is simply the best. It is true, cutting the cord and forgetting that pricey Cable TV bill is a reality although you will additionally need an antenna for all those broadcast networks or a digital-to-analog converter box. The high-speed, affordable internet is available too, though streaming devices will just provide further thrill.

Whether you choose the Roku 4 Streaming Media Player, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, or any one of the many affordable devices out there, you will be certainly at a profit. Many have done it, and the number is drastically rising, meaning that Cable TV’s days are numbered. Cut the cord today!